Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services in relation to the ongoing progress made by the council working with partners and communities in response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report in relation to the ongoing progress made by the council working with partners and communities in response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Board (24 June 2020) report titled ‘Update on Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic – Response and Recovery Plan’ was appended for the Board’s attention and consideration.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Rebecca Charlwood, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults

-  Cath Roff, Director of Adults and Health, Leeds City Council

-  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health, Leeds City Council

-  Carmel Langstaff, Chief Officer Transformation and Innovation, Leeds City Council

-  Paul Bollom, Head of Leeds Plan, Leeds City Council

-  Lisa Gibson, Strategy and Development Manager, Leeds Health Partnerships, Leeds City Council

-  Sam Prince, Executive Director of Operations, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

-  Rob Newton, Associate Director Policy & Partnerships, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

-  Dawn Hanwell, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, Leeds & York Partnership NHS Trust

-  Rob Goodyear, Head of Strategic Planning, NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group

-  Dr Sarah Forbes, NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group

-  Pip Goff, Volition Director, Forum Central

The Executive Member introduced the report, highlighting the coordinated efforts of health partners and third sector organisations across the city to put service users first and control local outbreaks.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

• Impact on care homes. The Director of Adults and Health highlighted that since the previous meeting, a small number of Covid-19 cases within care homes had been identified and managed accordingly. Members were also advised that there had been a significant shift from individuals and families choosing residential care homes, to seeking support to remain living at home, which is likely to have an impact on the sustainability of some care homes.
• Managing local outbreaks. The Director of Public Health explained that conversations are ongoing on a West Yorkshire level to manage local outbreaks in authorities bordering Leeds that have high infection rates.

·  Monitoring social distancing in public places. In response to a query, Members were advised that during the ‘lockdown’ period, the police actively monitored social distancing, but since the easing of restrictions to allow premises including pubs and restaurants to reopen, the extent to which social distancing can be monitored by relevant authorities is limited. However, workplaces and school settings categorised as high risk continue to be monitored.

·  Early testing phase. In response to a query, Members were advised that if the early testing phase in March 2020 had continued, it is likely that the infection rate would not have increased as rapidly and lives could have potentially been saved. However, the ending of the early testing phase was due to the capacity of the Public Health England team, which now has four times the capacity.

·  Planning for future peaks in infection rates. Members sought assurance on the preventative steps taken to reduce the impact of future peaks in the autumn and winter months, and were advised that the health and care sector will continue to work in partnership to plan for uncertainty in all settings. Members were also advised that this will include a communications strategy devised by the Leeds Outbreak Control Board to engage with key partners across the city to disseminate clear messages around social distancing and ‘doing the right thing’.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the reports, along with Members comments, be noted.